Stopper system for biological containers



March 10,1970 v |.vvlNAs lERA STOPPER SYSTEM FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 23, 1968 United States Patent Int. c1. Bssd 41/20, 41 /o4, 41 /62 U.S. Cl. 21S-37 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stopper system comprising an inner exible stopper disk, a rigid cap and a top capsule, the rigid cap having a central aperture in which an upper portion of the exible disk is fitted.

The present invention refers to a Astopper system for containers intended for biological cultures, with the object of satisfying the conditions in which such containers have to be treated and handled, both on account of the delicate nature of the media they contain and on that of the danger -which the latter represent, bearing in mind that in many cases these are pathogenicl agents 'with a high power of contamination.

The system in question is characterized by the fact that the occlusion practicable on the said containers is carried out by means of a locking cap which can be fitted by screwing round the neck, presenting a central aperture in its bottom which is intended for the application of an elastic stopper disk provided with means for fitting by friction to the cap itself and to the neck in its inner part, 'as also with means for fixing on this latter, the whole of the aforesaid being protected by an upper protective capsule which can be fitted by friction on the periphery of the said cap, in such a way that the pressure exerted by this cap produces the locking of the container by the double action of the elastic disk against its neck, the whole in such a way that the interior of the container is equally accessible by taking off the screwed cap, with dragging of the elastic stopper, and by direct perforation of the said elastic stopper by means of a tubular needle, with automatic occlusion.

The locking cap is constituted by a cylindrical body, with inner screwing, the bottom of which presents a circular aperture with a peripherie spring means on the lower side, forming ybesides an outer ange for the retention of the protective capsule, being provided with nonslipping axial grooves on the outer face of the cylindrical body.

The elastic stopper disk consists of a body essentially circular in outline which, in superimposition, presents an upper part intended to be applied on the central aperture of the cap, with a circular lower groove in mutual correspondence with the spring means of this latter element, a central part of greater diameter suitable for applying on the upper edge of the neck, which serves to fit it, and a lower part with a central hollow, which communicates with the inner diameter of the neck.

The protective capsule consists of a at circular body with a peripherie skirt designed to go round the cap, on which it is fitted by means of an entrant projection which is applied elastically runder the outer flange of the cap itself, being provided rwith a rim, deriving axially from the said skirt, with the object of facilitating its extraction.

Other objects and characteristics of the invention will be made known in detail in the course of the following description, reference being made to the drawings illustrating the same.

ICC

FIGURE l represents, in diametrical section, the upper part of a container provided with the elastic stopper disk referred to.

FIGURE 2 is an analogous view to that in the preceding figure, with the addition of a locking cap which is shown in the non-pressing position.

FIGURE 3 is lan analogous view to that in the preceding figure, in which the locking cap appears in the position of pressing against the stopper disk.

FIGURE 4 is an analogous view to that in the preceding figure, with the addition of a protective capsule, represented in the non-operating position.

FIGURE 5 is an analogous view to that in the preceding figure, in which the protective capsule is shown in the operating position.

FIGURE 6 shows a transversal section of the preceding figure by a line Vl-VI.

FIGURE 7 shows a transversal section of FIGURE 5 by a line VII-VII.

The present stopper system for containers containing biological cultures is composed of three elements in mutual association, designed to bring about the stopping referred to and at the same time to permit the accessibility of the material contained, whether for its extraction or its introduction, with or without the separation of the said elements.

The aforesaid stopping system consists of a rigid locking cap 1, an elastic stopper disk 2 and a protective capsule 3, all of which elements are designed for the occlusion of a container 4 specially designed for the particular neces sities of the maintenance of the cultures referred to.

The cap 1 consists of a cylindrical body 5 with inner screwing 6 and outer nonslipping grooving 7, in an axial sense, provided with a bottom 8 with a circular central aperture 9 which forms a lowerprojection 10. The said bottom y8 also possesses a peripherie flange 11 forming a tread on the lower side. This cap 1 is obtained from a moulding in a substantially rigid plastic material and is intended to be applied on the neck 12 of the container 4, for which purpose this latter has an outer screwing 13.

The elastic stopper disk 2, made of rubber or plastic, is essentially circular, forming, in superimposed parts, dierentiated zones with different functions. An upper part 14 is designed for tting on the cap 1 by application on its `central aperture 9, with a circular groove 15 in correspondence with the projection 10. A central part 16 possesses a greater diameter, which is equivalent to the outer diameter of the neck 12, on the edge of which it is applied. A lower part 17, with a central hollow, has a diameter equivalent to the inner diameter of the neck 12, y

on which place it is applied.

The protective capsule 3, obtained from a moulding in rigid plastic of a certain elasticity, consists of a flat circular body 18 with a peripherie skirt 19 which forms an entrant projection 20. This capsule is intended to be applied on the cap 1 and is retained on the same by means of elastic penetration by the projection 20 below the flange 11 of that cap. An axial rim 21 deriving from the skirt 19 facilitates its handling in the act of taking olf the capsule 3. The mission of this capsule is to protect the stopper disk 2, considering the slight consistency of the same.

The present system provides the right conditions for the closing of the container 4, lat the same time as it facilitates its accessibility in a suitable form. Thus, for straightforward, direct access to the interior of the container 4, one proceeds by disconnecting by rotation the locking cap 1, which drags the stopper 2, permitting operations within the container 4, by means of a rod of platinum or other material introduced through the neck 12; if it is desired to obtain limited accessibility, one proceeds by piercing the upper part 14 of the elastic disk 2 by means of a tubular needle similar to those of the type used for injections, in such a way that the orifice obtained is automatically occluded by reason of the elastic condition of the material. y

Considering the meticulous care with which biological cultures which are kept in the aforesaid containers 4 must be treated, the stopping means herein referred to provide the desirable conditions of security and ease of handling. The said security refers to the danger that may be represented by the aforesaid cultures, since these are micro-organisms of a pathogenic type, which must, therefore, be kept in proper isolation without hindering their extraction or introduction.

The containers 4 are shaped to receive a culture medium, known as agar-agar, together with a liquid as agent for the mobility of the micro-organisms, and some mechanical elements to ensure the retention of the culture in its bed, which is one of the lateral faces of the container itself, situated in a horizontal position.

The manoeuvring of the system, for the action of closing, is reduced to the placing, in the rst place, of the stopper disk 2 on the neck 12, followed by that of the cap 1, which, being provided with screwing, presses the said disk 2 until the occlusion of the ask is obtained; the said pressure permits the upper part 14 of the disk 2 to pass through the aperture 9 of the said cap until it is fitted in the said opening. Finally, the capsule 3 is put in place, by means of suitable pressure in the longitudinal sense of the container, until the elastic connection with the cap 1 is obtained. For the action of opening, it is sufficient to disconnect by rotation the whole of the aforesaid, or simply to remove the capsule 3 by elevation of its rim 21, if it is only desired to operate through the stopper disk 2.

What I claim is:

1. A stopper system for containers intended for biological cultures, comprising in combination: an elastic stopper disk having lower projecting means adapted to fit in a bottle neck and and upper projecting means; a locking cap having inner screwing means adapted to be screwed in the outer surface of a bottle neck and having a bottom portion presenting a central aperture, said upper projecting means of the elastic stopper being adapted to fit tightly in said central aperture and to be engaged by a projection provided therein, the said bottom portion being adapted to press the periphery of said elastic stopper disk Vagainst the edge of the bottle neck; and an upper protective capsule which can frictionally engage the periphery of said cap.

2. A stopper system for containers intended for biological cultures, as claimed in the preceding claim, in which the locking cap is constituted by a substantially rigid cylindrcal body, with inner screwing, the bottom of said body presenting a circular opening with a peripherie projection in its lower part, and forming besides an outer ange for the retention of the protective capsule, the outer face of the aforesaid cylindrical body being provided with nonslipping axial guides, the elastic stopper disk having a circular groove on which said outer flange is engaged.

3. A stopper system for containers intended for biological cultures, as claimed in claim 1, in which the elastic stopper disk consists of a body essentially circular in outlline which, in superimposition, presents an upper part adapted to fit in the central opening of the locking cap, with a lower circular groove in mutual correspondence with the projection of the said opening, a central part of substantially the diameter of the bottle neck and adapted to be pressed between the edge of the bottle neck and the bottom of the cap and a lower part with a central hollow which corresponds with the inner diameter of the said neck.

4. A stopper system for containers intended for biological cultures, as claimed in claim 2, in which the cap has a peripheral flange and the protective capsule consists of a flat circular body with a peripherie skirt adapted to go round the upper part of the cap, said skirt elastically engaging said peripheral flange, an axial rim deriving axially from the said skirt, with the object of facilitating its extraction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,898 12/1962 Reimann 215-37 3,092,278 6/ 1963 Jarnhall 21S-37 3,307,728 3/ 1967 Elser 21S-97 GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 21S- 43, 83, 97 

